Devotional Verses Founded on and Illustrative of select Texts of Scripture [by Bernard Barton] |
 |
HIDDEN, BUT HOPED FOR. |
 | Devotional Verses |  |
HIDDEN, BUT HOPED FOR.
“And the word of the Lord was precious in those days; there was no open vision.”
—1 Samuel, iii. 1.
Not only in the spring-tide hour,
Or summer's bright and fervid power,
Does nature live:—her hidden life
Lives on through winter's stormy strife.
Or summer's bright and fervid power,
Does nature live:—her hidden life
Lives on through winter's stormy strife.
Though perish'd bud, and flower, and fruit,
If deep below survive the root,
When spring shall re-assume her reign,
The sap shall re-ascend again.
If deep below survive the root,
When spring shall re-assume her reign,
The sap shall re-ascend again.
Nor had the Lord his people left,
Though Eli's age of strength was reft;
Although his sons their God forgot,
And he their sire restrain'd them not.
Though Eli's age of strength was reft;
Although his sons their God forgot,
And he their sire restrain'd them not.
46
Though even near His hallow'd ark
The lamp of God seem'd growing dark,
Though there no open vision told
The glories of the days of old.
The lamp of God seem'd growing dark,
Though there no open vision told
The glories of the days of old.
Yet still His word was precious! still
There were who sought to know his will,
Who look'd unto that ark, though dim,
With hopes and prayers that turn'd to Him.
There were who sought to know his will,
Who look'd unto that ark, though dim,
With hopes and prayers that turn'd to Him.
Those hopes and prayers an answer found
When night seem'd gathering darkly round;
Though he, the guardian of the shrine,
At first knew not the voice divine.
When night seem'd gathering darkly round;
Though he, the guardian of the shrine,
At first knew not the voice divine.
Nor is His church now left by Him,
Though many an Eli's eyes wax dim;
Nor is the Christian's hopeless night,
Though God, awhile, may veil his light.
Though many an Eli's eyes wax dim;
Nor is the Christian's hopeless night,
Though God, awhile, may veil his light.
If precious to His church his word,
Its voice by them shall yet be heard;
Christian, if veil'd that light from thee,
Hidden, but hoped for, may it be.
Its voice by them shall yet be heard;
Christian, if veil'd that light from thee,
Hidden, but hoped for, may it be.
| Devotional Verses | |